Galle Face Hotel

I was looking for a beachfront hotel and chose this one, and it was absolutely the right decision! The pool is right in front of the ocean, which is lovely both morning and evening. You can also see beautiful sunsets. The room has a bathtub, and the hot water works perfectly. The air conditioning can be a bit tricky to adjust, and since it's an older hotel, the lock is a bit stiff, but these weren't major issues for me. It's a historic hotel in Sri Lanka, and all the staff are very pleasant. To be able to stay here for this price is a great deal. I'd love to come back!

This was by far the most disappointing hotel during my trip to Sri Lanka. I booked it because it's a heritage hotel that has hosted many famous people, and it certainly has a historical background. The hotel reception was professional, and the pool view was nice. However, the room's facilities were also very 'historic' – quite old and worn. If you're used to staying in big-chain five-star hotels, you'll find this unbearable. I booked a sea-view room and mentioned it was for a birthday, hoping for a room with a better view. Instead, they gave us a really terrible one, at the very end of the corridor... (See image 8, truly 'excellent'). Additionally, on the day we checked in, they were having a lawn music festival. That's fine, but what was baffling was that the incredibly loud music continued until past midnight, maybe even 1 AM. This would never happen in my home country, where things usually wrap up by 10 or 11 PM. I was truly dazed from the noise... It seems the hotel cared more about making money from the music festival than the comfort of its regular guests. It was appalling! And there was no compensation whatsoever, not even a small gift. They just took it for granted that they could blast music at us. Oh, and we booked a dinner-included package. The dinner area had no air conditioning and was right next to the music festival. My family couldn't even hear each other speak at the same table; our ears felt like they were going to explode. It was quite an experience. In short, I absolutely do not recommend this hotel. I suggest everyone book a newer one instead!

This hotel is truly unique, steeped in history, and they do a wonderful job of preserving its century-old heritage while still embracing the 21st century. Everything is excellent, the staff are friendly and respectful, really valuing old-school service traditions. There's even a museum showcasing famous past guests like Anton Chekhov and Yuri Gagarin. The 20-meter saltwater pool, right on the Indian Ocean, is simply fantastic for relaxing when the sea is rough. As I mentioned, the rooms are styled from the 1960s-70s, and you even get the charming creak of the floors and stairs. The hotel team clearly puts a lot of effort into maintaining the property against the forces of time and the ocean's weather. The dining experience for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is a story in itself. You can explore not just local cuisine, but dishes from across South Asia. The chefs and restaurant staff really strive to make your stay here an enriching culinary journey into local culture and traditions. If it's your first time in Sri Lanka, I highly recommend this hotel for your initial introduction to the country. Despite the cost, it offers great value, especially considering its convenient location near Colombo's main attractions.

The oldest Western colonial hotel in the Far East. The creaking wooden floors add to its charm. It's called Galle Face because it faces Galle, which is a rather straightforward name.